: the time between the beginning of a process or project and the appearance of its results
Examples of lead time in a Sentence
We will need at least six months lead time before production begins.
Recent Examples on the Web
What is the lead time for customization, manufacturing, and delivery?
—
Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2024
Morgan Stanley also argued lead times are stabilizing, rather than contracting.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
Even as climate change worsens downpours, floods, fires, and heat waves, improvements in weather forecasting, longer lead times for warnings, more resilient infrastructure, and better responses in the aftermath have continued to save more lives.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 12 Aug. 2024
Technical limitations and employee resistance slowed its goal of cutting lead times by 30% and reducing order errors by 45%, delaying quicker product launches.
—Ketan Anand, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lead time 
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Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2024
Morgan Stanley also argued lead times are stabilizing, rather than contracting.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
Even as climate change worsens downpours, floods, fires, and heat waves, improvements in weather forecasting, longer lead times for warnings, more resilient infrastructure, and better responses in the aftermath have continued to save more lives.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 12 Aug. 2024
Technical limitations and employee resistance slowed its goal of cutting lead times by 30% and reducing order errors by 45%, delaying quicker product launches.
—Ketan Anand, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lead time
Dictionary Entries Near lead time
Cite this Entry
“Lead time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20time. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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